With ticket prices on the rise and additional fees being tacked on left and right, buying tickets can get very expensive very quickly. Service fees, convenience fees, taxes, shipping fees – it all adds up. Fortunately, there are some tricks you can use to get tickets to concerts, sports games, theater shows, and other events without paying extra fees.
Buy directly from the venue box office
One of the easiest ways to avoid fees when purchasing tickets is to buy directly from the venue’s box office, either in person or over the phone. Since you are buying directly from the source, venues typically don’t charge the service fees that many ticketing websites do. Just be sure to ask when you are purchasing to make sure no fees are being added on.
Buying directly from the venue also often allows you to choose your exact seat location, rather than just being assigned “best available” like you get with many online purchases. This allows you to scope out the seating chart ahead of time and pick seats that meet your preferences.
The main downside of buying directly through the box office is convenience. You’ll need to call or visit during box office hours rather than ordering online 24/7. Box office hours are usually limited, so this method may require taking time off work or rearranging your schedule.
Use promo codes and pre-sales
If you don’t mind buying through a ticketing website, look for ways to waive or reduce service fees. Many sites offer promotional codes that eliminate fees on all or certain types of tickets. These codes will typically be for a limited time, so if you find one make sure to use it before it expires!
Also look out for special pre-sales that waive fees if you buy early. Artists will often announce these on their websites and social media pages before tickets go on sale to the general public. Pre-sales don’t last long so you need to jump on them right away, but they can save you big time on fees.
Buy fan club or credit card presales
Along with general pre-sales, there are other types of early sales you can take advantage of to avoid fees:
- Artist fan club presales – By joining an artist’s official fan club, you get first dibs on tickets and usually avoid processing fees too. There is typically a small membership fee.
- Credit card presales – Certain credit card companies will offer cardholders early access to tickets for select events, usually with no fees when you use that card to pay. Offers vary by issuer.
- VIP packages – Some events offer premium VIP ticket packages that bundle great seats with perks like meet and greets, merch, and more. These usually waive fees.
Use a ticket exchange service
Ticket exchange services allow fans to post tickets they can no longer use and sell them directly to other fans. This peer-to-peer system avoids fees altogether. StubHub and Vivid Seats are two of the largest exchanges. You won’t get the tickets in hand until shortly before the event, but you’ll pay way less in fees.
Buy season or flex ticket packages
If you plan to attend multiple events at a single venue, you can save on fees by investing in season or flex ticket packages upfront instead of buying individually. These packages allow you to lock in great seats for an entire season of events while waiving most or all service fees.
Many sports teams, theater companies, symphonies, and other recurring events offer these types of multi-ticket packages. The more tickets you plan to buy, the more you stand to save over time by avoiding per-ticket fees.
Use a ticket consolidator
Similar to ticket exchanges, ticket consolidators buy up large blocks of tickets and resell them to fans at big discounts. Because they are buying in such large quantities, they are able to keep fees low or eliminate them completely. TickPick and ScoreBig are two trusted consolidators.
Buy discounted gift cards
If you are buying through a major ticketing website, look for discounted gift cards on sites like Raise or CardCash. You can often get 5-15% off the face value, then use that gift card on the ticketing site to pay for your tickets and fees. It ends up essentially reducing your fees, just in a roundabout way.
Join a Costco, Sam’s Club, or warehouse club
Warehouse clubs like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s often sell tickets to popular local events at up to 50% off face value with no fees. Inventory is limited, but if they happen to carry tickets to an event you want to attend the savings will be tremendous.
Volunteer at the event
Some events will grant free admission to volunteers who donate their time. Charity runs, festivals, and other community events frequently offer this exchange. The shift may only be a few hours – well worth it to attend for free!
Enter ticket giveaways and contests
Radio stations, blogs, local newspapers, events pages on Facebook, and artist websites will often run ticket giveaways and contests as a promotional opportunity. Entering is typically free and just requires following or sharing on social media. It may take a few tries to win but beats paying any day.
Wait until the last minute
Procrastination pays off when it comes to avoiding fees! As events approach and venues are trying to fill remaining seats, they will frequently waive service fees to boost lagging sales. Keep an eye on ticketing sites leading up to events and you can often swoop in a few days before for the best seats that still available, completely fee-free.
Just be aware that waiting until the last minute can be risky – selection is limited and desired tickets could sell out completely. So this tactic works best for less popular events that aren’t likely to fully sell out.
Conclusion
Avoiding fees when buying tickets comes down to being clever, planning ahead, and knowing where to look. But with so many events constantly happening in cities across the country, there are always great fee-free ticket deals out there for savvy savers.
Armed with these tips, you can continue attending your favorite sports games, concerts, theater productions, and other events without draining your bank account on fees. Start scoping out presales, ticket exchanges, giveaways, and other strategies well in advance for the biggest savings – and enjoy the show!
Method | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Buy directly from venue box office | – No fees – Pick exact seats |
– Limited hours – Inconvenient |
Use promo codes and presales | – Waived/reduced fees | – Time limited – Still some fees |
Fan club or credit card presales | – First access – Usually no fees |
– Fan club membership cost – Cardholder requirements |
Ticket exchange services | – No fees – Cheaper than face value |
– Tickets not in hand until last minute |
Season or flex ticket packages | – Waived fees – Lock in seats |
– Big upfront cost – Only works for repeat venues |
Ticket consolidators | – Heavy discounts – No fees |
– Inventory not guaranteed |
Discounted gift cards | – 5-15% off – Reduces total fees |
– Fees not eliminated – Cumbersome process |
Warehouse club tickets | – Up to 50% off – No fees |
– Limited inventory |
Volunteer | – Free admission | – Time commitment – Limited opportunities |
Giveaways and contests | – No cost to enter | – Not guaranteed to win |
Last minute purchases | – Fees typically waived | – Limited selection – Risk of sellout |